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Rooftop terrace bar at the Happiest Hour restaurant and bar that just opened as part of the Harwood area build-out. The 12,000-square-foot venue features 50 draft beers (most of them craft), seven wines on tap and a handful of house cocktails. The space also features a first-floor patio with backyard-style courtyard area and a rooftop terrace with 360-degree views of downtown Dallas. (Robert W. Hart/Special Contributor)

With 360-degree downtown views, Happiest Hour has blue-sky ambitions

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Another chunk of Harwood's gargantuan build-out in Uptown has reared into place with the opening of Happiest Hour.

Happiest Hour

The superlative "est" form certainly applies to the restaurant and bar's dimensions. It's a double-decked 12,000 square feet of milling-around room with stunning wraparound views of downtown and Victory Park. The bigness continues with three bars, eight wines and 50 beers on tap and 17 flat-screens. A ground-level outdoor space for lounging and yard games resembles a highfalutin Katy Trail Ice House.

This degree of night-life giantism hasn't been common in Dallas since the the '90s heyday of Upper Greenville dance clubs.

Happiest Hour's ambition will need to be maximal to fill that space: Pull every single animate creature from whatever's happening at American Airlines Center across Cedar Springs Road while enticing a strong, regular influx from surrounding office towers.

Patrons at the rooftop bar at Happiest Hour

Robert W. Hart/Special Contributor

That's a tall order when AAC isn't lit up. On a recent Monday evening, Happiest Hour was decently populated, but you could still have considerable square footage to yourself.

Perhaps to appeal to the broadest, bushiest middle brow, Happiest Hour plays it safe in a couple of ways. The specialty cocktails, with silly sports-related names, tend toward the sweet. The music is top-of-the-charts rockers of the last 40 years, because Mavs fans never tire of Tom Petty, apparently.

Patrons at the terrace-level bar at Happiest Hour restaurant and bar, which opened recently in the Harwood district. The 12,000-square-foot venue features 50 draft beers , seven wines on tap and a handful of house cocktails.

Robert W. Hart/Special Contributor

Dogs are welcome at the large outdoor area at Happiest Hour.

Robert W. Hart/Special Contributor

A fresh draft beer at Happiest Hour

Robert W. Hart/Special Contributor

One of the many spacious dining areas at Happiest Hour

Robert W. Hart/Special Contributor

Appetizer at Happiest Hour

Robert W. Hart/Special Contributor

Main bar at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015. 50 beer taps are available.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

A look at the rooftop terrace at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

Patio area at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

Main bar at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015. 50 beer taps are available.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

The Aggie Pick Me Up made with Patrón Reposado, Patrón Incendio, lime juice, agave nectar and strawberry at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

A view from the courtyard area at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

Detail of lights above the bar at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

Exterior of the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

Main bar at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015. 50 beer taps are available.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

Interior view of the first floor at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

Happiest Hour's charcuterie board with rotating meats and cheese from around the world at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

Main bar at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015. 50 beer taps are available.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

A view of the interior portion of the upstairs area at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

Patio area at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

Main bar at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015. 50 beer taps are available.

Chicken wings at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

Interior view of the first floor at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

Interior view of the first floor at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

One of three bars at the Happiest Hour restaurant and bar that just opened as part of the Harwood area build-out. The 12,000-square-foot venue features 50 draft beers (most of them craft), seven wines on tap and a handful of house cocktails. The space also features a first-floor patio with backyard-style courtyard area and a rooftop terrace with 360-degree views of downtown Dallas. (Robert W. Hart/Special Contributor)

2015 Robert W. Hart 214-808-3920 robert@roberthart.com

Eight wines are available on tap at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

Stars Green Evny made with Effen Cucumber, cucumbers, mint, simple syrup, and fresh lime juice at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

50 beer taps are available at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

Two booths each weighing in at 1500 pounds at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

A look at the courtyard from the rooftop terrace level at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

Main bar at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015. 50 beer taps are available.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

A look at the rooftop terrace at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

Patio area at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

Main bar at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015. 50 beer taps are available.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

The Aggie Pick Me Up made with Patrón Reposado, Patrón Incendio, lime juice, agave nectar and strawberry at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

A view from the courtyard area at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

Detail of lights above the bar at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

Exterior of the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

Main bar at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015. 50 beer taps are available.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

Interior view of the first floor at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

Happiest Hour's charcuterie board with rotating meats and cheese from around the world at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

A view of the interior portion of the upstairs area at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

The outdoor patio at the Happiest Hour restaurant and bar that just opened as part of the Harwood area build-out. The 12,000-square-foot venue features 50 draft beers (most of them craft), seven wines on tap and a handful of house cocktails. The space also features a first-floor patio with backyard-style courtyard area and a rooftop terrace with 360-degree views of downtown Dallas. (Robert W. Hart/Special Contributor)

2015 Robert W. Hart 214-808-3920 robert@roberthart.com

Patio area at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Main downstairs bar at the Happiest Hour restaurant and bar that just opened as part of the Harwood area build-out. The 12,000-square-foot venue features 50 draft beers (most of them craft), seven wines on tap and a handful of house cocktails. The space also features a first-floor patio with backyard-style courtyard area and a rooftop terrace with 360-degree views of downtown Dallas. (Robert W. Hart/Special Contributor)

2015 Robert W. Hart 214-808-3920 robert@roberthart.com

Chicken wings at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

Interior view of the first floor at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

Interior view of the first floor at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

Eight wines are available on tap at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

Stars Green Evny made with Effen Cucumber, cucumbers, mint, simple syrup, and fresh lime juice at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

50 beer taps are available at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

Two booths each weighing in at 1500 pounds at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

A look at the courtyard from the rooftop terrace level at the Happiest Hour in Dallas on Thursday, October 8, 2015.